It’s crossed my mind that it must seem a bit arrogant for me to keep referring to “the creative process” – as though there were only one creative process at work in the Universe, and I just happen to be in tune with it. But there really doesn’t seem to be a better way to describe the experience I’m attempting to discuss — at least not in keeping with my own artistic philosophy. In my view, there really is a single, unified creative process. But by no means do I claim to be in close touch with it. I believe in this fascinating process, much the same way that I believe in God. However, I’m about as close to the essence of this process as I am to God Himself – and believe me, that isn’t very close.

It is my belief in this process that is at the core of this blog. In fact, I would venture to suggest that if we all understood this process better, we would come to a better understanding of the nature of God. After all, who is God but the Creator? By definition, He is not just “a creator” – but the Creator. All other creators and creations are subject to His single, all-embracing Act of Creativity — that which always was, is now, and always will be: the continual creation of a highly creative Universe, in which all of us are privileged to create.

If that were not the case, then I wouldn’t be a believer. But since I do believe in God, it really doesn’t seem to me as though there is any other way to look at it. Besides, God or no God, the theme of creativity–with all of its processes, procedures, and protocol–simply fascinates me. I want to learn more and more about it, as my creative life goes on.

While my oft-usage of the word “muse”is purely figurative, there does seem to be a frequent and common experience of sensing the “presence” of a powerful creative force. Or, as I tried to describe in the previous post, I can at times sense that the arrival of this creative power is imminent. As it happened, I did not manage to muster any motivation for my current playwriting project on Friday, even though I “felt” that something was about to “break” as early as Thursday night. But Saturday was another story. I began my process of writing, editing, and rewriting at about eight in the morning, and basically did not stop till midnight. This morning, I did a few final edits, and can now announce that I’ve completed up to p.75 of this piece to my satisfaction. The last time I made a progress reportalong these lines, I was only up to p.64. I had finished the first four Scenes last Saturday. Then a week of “nothing” went by, and I finished at least half of the fifth Scene the following Saturday.

Graham Wallas

But was that “week of nothing” really only “nothing?” I think not. There is a theory, most notably espoused by Graham Wallas, that once a creator is fully committed to their creation, the creative act continues constantly, even when nothing is being considered consciously. This process of unconscious creation is known asincubation. Then, in conjunction with a moment of illumination, the creative process is consciously resumed. Arguably, this is what took place during the week when it seemed that nothing was accomplished. Suddenly, much was accomplished on a single day.

Of course, there are other theories as to why this could have come about. But there are also many theories as to how the Universe came about in the first place. Could God Himself conceivably have “incubated” for an eternity or so, before the illumination that instigated the Universe was initiated? How much incubation has occurred worldwide, on a planetary level, before this most recent series of illuminations could take place? To what kind of creations will all these “illuminations” lead? It boggles the mind to think about it.

But think about it we will — and we must. I would venture to suggest that we’re all going to be thinking quite creatively in the days, weeks, and months to come. We will have to – and we will – for we always have. We were created in His Image, and in His Image we will sustain ourselves -for we are the highly creative, divinely inspired Human Race.